Sermons upon Deuteronomy

and therefore §60there is none other remedy, but to make clean riddance of all such things as may allure us to superstition. Truly if their were puppets among us as are in the Popedom, it might be alleged that they could not hurt us as long as they were not worshipped. In deed it is true that they of themselves could not hurt us: but let us look into ourselves, and we shall find ourselves so weak, that we should be blinded immediately by such baggage, and it would turn us away from Gods pure word, insomuch that if we had altars still, we should not know that the Lords supper were ministered unto us to the intent we should be partakers of him, and enjoy all his goods: but there would remain I wot not what a wicked imagination of that hellish Sacrifice which is done in the popedom; namely of the Mass, wherein men think that Christ is offered there to GOD his father for the remission of our sins. And so there would always remain some wicked fancy still in our head. That is the cause why God hath so straitly commanded to break the images, destroy the altars, and burn up the woods or groves where idols have been served and worshipped. The Papists in these days reply that that commandment was given but to the Jews, because they were given to superstition. Verily as who should say that we were better disposed nowadays than they were. True it is that GOD giveth not this commandment to us as touching the Ceremony of burning all things wherewith idols have been served: but yet for all that, his will is that we should make clean riddance of all things that may turn us from the pure religion. If it were of necessity that all things should be done away wherewith idols have been worshipped; this temple should not now stand to have the name of GOD preached in it. It hath been a brothelhouse of Satan's, but now must we apply it to good use, by taking away the trumpery that hath reigned in it, which was quite contrary to Gods word. But howsoever the world go, if we look well upon our infirmity, we shall find that this lesson belongeth to us at this day, namely that all remembrance of idols is to be utterly razed out.

and therefore §60there is none other remedie, but to make cleane riddaunce of all such thinges as may allure vs to superstition. Truely if their were puppettes among vs as are in the Popedome, it might be alleadged that they could not hurt vs as long as they were not worshipped. In deed it is true that they of themselues could not hurt vs: but lette vs looke into ourselues, and wee shall finde ourselues so weake, that wee shoulde be blinded immediatly by such baggage, and it would turne vs away from Gods pure worde, insomuch that if we had altars still, we should not knowe that the Lordes supper were ministred vnto vs to the intent wee should be partakers of him, and inioy all his goods: but there woulde remaine I wote not what a wicked imagination of yt hellish Sacrifice which is done in the popedome; namely of the Masse, wherein men thinke that Christ is offered there to GOD his father for the remission of our sinnes. And so there woulde alwayes remaine some wicked fancie still in our heade. That is the cause why God hath so straitly commaunded to breake the ymages, destroy the altars, and burne vppe the woods or groues where ydolles haue beene serued and worshipped. The Papists in these dayes replie that that commaundement was giuen but to the Iewes, because they were giuen to superstition. Verily as who shoulde say that we were better disposed noweadayes than they were. True it is that GOD giueth not this commaundement to vs as touching the Ceremonie of burning all thinges wherewith ydolles haue beene serued: but yet for all that, his will is that we should make cleane riddaunce of all thinges that may turne vs from the pure religion. If it were of necessitie that all thinges shoulde bee doone away wherewith ydolles haue beene worshipped; this temple shoulde not nowe stande to haue the name of GOD preached in it. It hath beene a brothelhouse of Satans, but nowe must wee apply it to good vse, by taking away the trumperie that hath reigned in it, which was quite contrarie to Gods worde. But howesoeuer the worlde goe, if we looke well vppon our infirmitie, wee shall finde that this lesson belongeth to vs at this day, namely that all remembraunce of ydolles is to bee vtterly rased out.